Who are Bosch?

Bosch are a very large multinational company that bring a whole manner of products to market. They began researching and developing eBike systems many years ago, they brought their first electric bike system to market in 2010. The Bosch system has been constantly developed and improved as time has gone on. The latest eBike system is the Bosch Performance line so this is the one we will directly compare today.The Bosch system is now used in over 50 leading bike brands across Europe.

eBikes--those that have an electric motor which either helps turn the wheels or the pedals--have proven popular in Europe and China. eBikes have yet to take off in the U.S., but Bosch believes that will change next year.Bosch's eBike system is composed of three parts: A drive unit, battery pack, and handlebar-mounted controls and display. Riding an eBike around Manhattan, I couldn't help but notice the extra kick provided by the electric motor. It felt as if someone came up behind me and gave me a push. The controls were dead simple to use, too: two buttons on a left controller let me increase or decrease the amount of power being delivered to the drivetrain.An LCD console mounted in the center of the handlebars showed the range of the battery, distance traveled, and a few other metrics related to the ride. On the right handlebar was a gear shifter, which I used as with any other bike.

China super size e-bike market

Worldwide e-bike sales in 2010 estimated to be 24 million. About 300,000 in USA, about 700,000 in Europe, 1.2 million in India, Japan and Taiwan, and 21.6 million in China!

Electric bike sales have grown far faster than the sales of any other mode of transportation in China, from a modest 150,000 units sold in the late 90s to more then 20 million today. Thats three times as many as the most optimistic projections for cars sales in China for the near future.

Therefore, the implications of this technology on China, both positive and negative, on urban traffic, industry development, energy use, and many other aspects, are huge.

The extraordinary growth of the e-bike market in the late 90s to the present is due to a combination of:1.Technology2.Economic3.Regulations and the urban fabric

Technology

E-bike technology, specifically motors and batteries, improved significantly during the late 1990s. Simple technology, a vast supplier base, and weak intellectual property protection made it easier for e-bike makers to enter the industry, increasing competition and driving prices down.

All in all, there is an astonishing number of several hundreds companies manufacturing electric bikes in china nowadays..

Also, the weak protection of intellectual property caused more companies to increase there R&D efforts as this was the only solution in fighting against the law violating companies.

Many big-brands bicycle makers have many factories in China. For example, Giant, a leader in bicycling manufacturing, have a couple of factories.

Economic

Electric bicycles are a mode of transportation that provides high levels of personal mobility at low cost. The improving economic in China allowed many to buy e-bikes.

The typical chinese electric bike users would use a bus or a bicycle if s/he wouldn't own an electric bike. In China, it is a higher quality mobility option in comparison to public transport.

At 1500 to 3000 yuan (about 180 to 360 US dollar), an electric bike is buyable at a small fraction of the cost of a car and it is becoming affordable to more and more chinese people.

Apart from the reduction of e-bike prices over the years, gasoline prices rose and electricity prices in rural areas dropped, making e-bikes more competitive economically with alternatives like gasoline-powered scooters.

Regulations and the urban fabric

Bicycles, estimated at 450 million, have been and still remain the dominant vehicle in Chinese cities, mainly due to low income, high population density (and thus short trips), and extensive bicycle infrastructure (e.g. lanes, parking).

Electric bikes allow people to commute for longer distances and carry more cargo. It becomes an important advantage as China's cities are expanding more and more.

Electric bikes beat subways for convenience, buses (and in many cases also cars) for speed, and both when it comes to health concerns: the overcrowded transit system is feared for its potential to spread disease (e.g. SARS).

Electric bikes have improved the mobility of the elderly, who often have the responsibility of transporting children.

E-bike standards and road rules are set by national government (China Bicycle Association), but it is up to local governments to decide how to enforce these product standards and manage traffic.

Paving the road to e-mobilityGlobally Bosch invests some 400 million euros annually in e-mobility and offers a full portfolio of products ranging from motors and power electronics to auxiliary systems. Its successful entry into the e-Bike drives market saw it deliver 70,000 units this year. With its joint venture for lithium-ion batteries, Bosch is working to increase the range and reduce the cost of this key component. By 2013, Bosch will be working on 21 projects for 13 automakers. While a major shift towards purely electric driving isnt expected until the middle of the next decade, Bosch anticipates that transitional solutions will gain acceptance much before. It thus expects good opportunities for the plug-in hybrid, whose battery can be charged simply from a wall socket. The all-electric range is sufficient for day-to-day urban trips. Bosch thus sees strong potential for small evehicles, especially in megacities.About BoschThe Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. The company employs roughly 360,000 associates worldwide (as per April 1, 2015), and generated sales of 49 billion euros in 2014.* Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including its sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600 patents worldwide. The Bosch Groups strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is Invented for life.The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering. The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

Some local government policy motivated by energy and air quality issues created favorable conditions for e-bike growth but other have banned them altogether, alleging environmental drawbacks and concerns about public safety.

Therefore, e-bike penetration is noticeably different from city to city. Some cities have low adoption, like anti e-bike Beijing (50%).

The lack of growth in anti e-bike cities is an important lesson on the powerful impact of regulatory policy.

In smaller cities and countryside where income rises, e-bikes may eventually replace the bicycles which are still the potentate mode of transportation.

The two sides of the e-bike coin

Some people advocates that e-bikes will continue to grow in popularity as income rise and cities expand. It is clear that income is not the only factor contributing to the popularity of electric bikes; their performance characteristics and built in advantages make them a popular mode for all income classes.

But, we can't neglect that fact that China is following the path of Western countries, rapidly redesigning its cities around the automobile. Houses are springing up in the suburbs, just as they did in the West decades ago. The automobile is king in this model, because in the absence of extensive public transit, cars are the only way to get from distant suburbs to offices and industry parks.

Reference listChinas cyclists take charge, June 2005, IEEE SpectrumThe future of electric two-wheelers and electric vehicles in China, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, CA, USA, Energy PolicyThe Transition to Electric Bikes in China: Effect on Travel Behavior, Mode Shift, and User Safety Perceptions in a Medium-Sized City, Weinert, Ma, Yang, CherryThe Transition To Electric Bikes In China: History And Key Reasons For Rapid Growth

Quality of Chinese electric bike

Why are this Asian e-bikes are so damn cheap?

There are probably two reasons for that. And the real answer is found somewhere in between.1.The chinese electric bike industry is huge, about 20 million e-bikes are manufactures there each year. So as with any large industry (not necessarily mature), production costs are getting lower with time.2.Because of aggressive competition and financial pressure, manufactures try to cut expenses at all cost. The result is quite a low quality e-bikes. Many bicycles and electrical system made by Asian manufactures come with dubious quality parts and assembly.So don't be fooled by the price tag. In the long run, it can cost you more than a quality electric bike.

But, on the other hand, it's not always the case and you can purchase an e-bike which is going to be just fine. You just have to make sure to look hard, know what you want and research.

For example, an average Chinese bike's motor supply a 10 newton meters of torque, while a top of the line electric bike can produce a sweeping 90 newton meters. If you know that, and you know that 10 newton meters is enough for you, you can do a intelligent choice.

Don't be the next innocent person who buy cheap internet e-bikes from China and get an almost entirely not functional junk

If you decide to buy an electric bike, a conversion kit or individual parts from China, you should think about the following issues:Have guarantee, some kind of warranty that is going to be accepted. Be sure that you should be able to get spare parts and fix your e-bike if necessary. Durability, quality and water-resistance are very important features. A good warranty offer is an indication that such features exists. Also remember that e-bikes have some kind of privilege when it comes to law and taxes. Different countries have different regulations and it is possible that you will buy an Asian legal bike which is illegal in your own country. Certification means that the manufacture has passed some kind of tests. There are different kinds of certification tests which includes environmental standards tests, safety tests, quality tests and more. It is a good sign if the e-bike manufacture has qualified in one or more of this tests.Have a reliable communication channel. Meaning, have someone to talk to!- See more at: http://www.electric-bicycle-guide.com/chinese-electric-bike.html#sthash.IZjQW8TI.dpuf